Animal-brander.



M. v. HAYES. ANIMAL BRAN DER.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10, 1912.

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Patented June 3, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY M. V. HAYES. ANIMAL BRANDER.

APPLICATION FILED 001 .10, 1912 Patented June 3, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ATTORNEY MONARD VINSON HAYES, 0F DEPORT, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-BRANDEB.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Application filed. October 10, 1912. Serial No. 725,089.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MONARD V. HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deport, in the county of Lamar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Branders,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animal branders, and one of the objects thereof is to provide a device of this character which will brand two separate and distinct characters, which in conjunction with a set of books, will give an accurate record of each and every head of cattle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brander in which the various characters are readily interchangeable relative to their supports, which are adjustable to permit of diverse assembling of the said characters according to the number desired to be branded.

A still further object of the invention is to provide holders or supports for main taining the characters so that the latter will be sustained throughout their longitudinal extent and absolutely prevented from having any displacement.

To the accomplishment of the recited objects and others coordinate therewith, the preferred embodiment of my invention resides in that construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved brander. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the complete brander, and Figs. 4 and 5 are similar detail views of one of the holders and characters respectively.

Generally speaking, my invention involves a frame having a plurality of cross-bars or struts in the front and rear thereof, the front cross-bars being utilized for the purpose of supporting two sets of holders in superposed relation. These holders are designed for adjustment longitudinally of their respective cross-bars but means are provided for always maintaining the same in a true vertical position. Furthermore,

the holders are equipped with suitable means for receiving and securely supporting the various characters. Finally, the frame or carrier is equipped with a handle by means of which the complete device can be manipulated to expeditiously brand the cattle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings for a detail description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a pair of vertically extending side boards or the like, equidistantly spaced and connected by a pair of forwardly disposed transversely extending rods 2 and a similar pair of rearwardly arranged rods 3. Projecting outwardly from the rear edge of the side boards 1, and preferably from opposite corners thereof, are a plurality of arms 4 which converge toward and are secured to a header, as 5. At a point medially of this header a socket 6 is detachably connected by screw threads or equivalent means, as at 7, the said socket being for the purpose of receiving the handle 8.

The hereinbefore mentioned side boards, the cross-bars, and the rearwardly extending arms comprise the frame of my improved branding device. The forwardly extending pair of cross-bars are substantially circular for the greater portion of their cross-sectional contour and have a flat rear face 9 which extends longitudinally from end to end of the respective bars. As previously described, the bars 2 are disposed in vertical alinement and occupy a superposed relation. The upper cross-bar is designed to receive a plurality of holding blocks or holders 10, each of which has a transversely extending opening, as 11, adjacent its base corresponding exactly to the cross-sectional contour of the-crossbar, and centrally of each opening and in a line or substantially coaxial with the fiat face 9 of the rod, a set screw 12 is adapted to enter the holder from the rear and engage the said flat face to preclude relative movements of the holder and the rod. The number of holders mounted upon the upper cross-bar in accordance with the showing of the drawing is four, although it will be manifest that this number may be increased or decreased without departing from the spirit of my invention.

erably letters 17.

holders,

Upon the lower cross-bar 2 are arranged a pair of holders 13 which 73,1 6 identical with the holders carried by the upper crossbar. point adjacent the upper end of each of the holders l0 and 13,.and upon the frontside thereof, a square opening, as 14, is

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formed for the purpose of receiving a small projection or lug, as 15, each constructed as an integral part of a flat plate or base 15 having a contour corresponding to the face of the holders. This construction not only reinforces and strengthens the characters, thereof. prise n'u-n l be'rs l6 and the lower set are pref- The herein described opening 14: extends 'rearwardly in each holder for a 'sho-rtd-istan'ce and the end wall thereof is intersected by another opening 18 w'hlclr enters from the top of the holder and is designed to contain a vertically extending set screw, @as 19. U on inspection of Figs. 1. and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the set screws of the upper row of holdthe inner terminal of the'set screws 19 "then v brought to bear tightly upon the said lug in order to rigidly hold the characters against displacement. If four numbers and two initials are to 'be'used the relative positions of the two sets of characters will be the same as disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, where it will be seen that the two sets of characters are disposed centrally with respect to each other and to the frame. However, if two or three numbers are employed the remaining holders mounted upon the upper cross-bar are shifted to the side in inactive position, the active holders being adjusted centrally of the initials in the same manner as just described, with reference to the showing of the four numbers. This adjustment is readily obtained by means of the respective set screws 12 and the rear flat longitudinal faces of the cross-*arms with which'the former engage. Having secured the desired combination of characters, the same being in thoroughly heated state, the

complete device is supported by the handle 8 and applied to the animal. In branding the next animal the right hand figure, as 5 will be removed and the figure 6 substituted therefor, and so on until the herd has been branded. I

By this means it will be understood that having two designations, namely, figures of which is s but permits a perfect alinement The upper set of characters com and initials, a complete record of each head of cattle can be easily and reliably kept with the assistance of a given set of books, and there will be no danger of failure to recognize cattle or identify cattle so marked even though they stray and become mingled with foreign herds. It will also be noted that thebranding characters project outwardly from the frame only a distance sufiicient to permit proper branding of the cattle, and that each of the characters lies upon and is supposed wholly by its respective holder.

It should be understood that in its broader aspect the invention comprehends the employment notonly of the various means described, but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions.

lVhile the arrangement shown is thought at the present time to be preferable, it is desired to reserve the right to effect such modifications and variations thereof as may come fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed, is

1. In an animal brander, the combination 4 .of a frame having a pair of cross-bars arranged in superposed relation, holders mounted upon each cross-bar, a plate corresponding to the contour of the face of each holder and adapted to be secured relative to said holder, a character carried by said plate, and means permitting the ad- 'justing of the holders longitudinally of one bar with respect to the holder of the other bar.

2. In an animal brander, the combination of a frame, having a support, a holder mounted upon said support, a plate having its edges flush with the edges of the holder and adapted to be secured relative to said holder, and a character carried by said plate,

-said plate and holder being longitudinally adjustable relative to said support.

3. A portable brander comprising a frame having a pair of cross members, characters mounted upon each of said members, means for permitting the adjusting of said characters longitudinally and in spaced relation with respect to each of the members, all of said characters being adapted to be simultaneously applied to the surface to be branded upon a single operation.

4. In an animal brander, the combination of a frame having a support, a holder mounted upon said support and having an opening, a character plate having a base the edges of which lie flush with the edges of the holder, a lug carried by said base and adapted to be received in said opening, and means for fastening said lug with respect to the holder.

5. In an animal brander, the combination. of a frame having a rod, a support mounted upon said rod, a plate having an outline In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my identical with the outline off the support signature in presence of two witnesses. whereby the ends and sides 0 the support are adapted to coincide with the ends and MONARD VINSON HAYES sides of the plate, means for securing the 'Witnesses:

plate relative the support, and a character W. R. DAVIS, carried by said plate. CLAUD COUNGILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

